HB 448 — Monitoring air contaminant emissions in certain counties

90R3900 CMO-D By: Lalani H.B. No. 448 relating to monitoring air contaminant emissions in certain counties.

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 382.0162 to read as follows: Sec. 382.0162. MONITORING OF AIR CONTAMINANTS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a county that: (1) is adjacent to a county with a population of 3.3 million or more; and (2) contains a coal-fired electric generating facility. (b) The commission shall install and maintain at least one air quality monitor in each county described by Subsection (a). The monitors required under this section must: (1) meet federal reference method or federal equivalent method criteria approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; (2) be operated in accordance with 40 C.F.R. Part 53; and (3) at a minimum, monitor: (A) ozone; (B) respirable particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns; and (C) sulfur dioxide. (c) At least one monitor must be located near each coal-fired electric generating facility located in each county described by Subsection (a). (d) The commission shall make available in real time on its Internet website data collected from a monitor required under this section. (e) The commission shall include each monitor installed under this section in the commission's annual monitoring network plan for each of the pollutants listed in Subsection (b)(3).

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.